A recurring critique in the German media focusses on President Bush’s personal faith. Bush, according to the German media, “listens” to God before making political decisions; he “asks” God for advice on earthly matters such as going to war or balancing the budget. This defines Bush in the sophisticated minds of German journalists as either a sinister bigot or a naive backwater hack.
In an interview with columnist Cal Thomas, that is reprinted in German in the “Welt”, Bush has this to say about the influence of his faith on his policies:
Q: When we had lunch together, which I know you’ve forgotten, but I’ll never forget, in the Governor’s Mansion in 1999, I asked you for some of your favorite Scripture versus and you rattled off two or three from the Gospels. I’m wondering, you have often alluded to, as Lincoln did, that he didn’t see, and you couldn’t see how someone could be President without faith in God. Gerald Ford said Proverbs 3: 5-6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” —
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q: “and lean not on your understanding” was his favorite when he was here. I wonder if one has particularly sustained you during time of war and the great pressures of this job?
THE PRESIDENT: It’s an interesting question. I have said that I don’t see how anybody can be President without prayer and a belief in the Almighty, although I’m sure others were able to do so. I think that’s an important qualifier, because I’m sure people sat here in the office and felt like they could be President. I recognize that, in my feebleness, I need support from the Almighty, because I believe in an Almighty. And I love the support of the people through prayer.
You know, I can’t think of a single verse. I mean, I wish I could. I guess
